I have a plywood board 3x6 and want to do an N scale project. I was just wondering about the price diffrance between HO and N scale, and the avalability. I know that it is easy to find HO scale stuff but what about N is it as easy to find.
Thanx for the help
Benjamin R.
well being in n scale ho stuff is more cheaper, mainly because of n scales size. IN ho there are ide say a lot more, models and cars to choose from where in n scale, there is a big selection, but i think ho topps it off, depending on materieals and availability, ide say take about 500 bucks with ya to get started, i know ive spent a little more than that and im in the middle of making mine but then again, prices depend greatly on the brand of engines ur using, and how much quality medchandise you have,
good luck,
tim
It was easier to get HO stuff a few years back but it isn’t as true nowadays.It is true that you will still find a much wider choice in HO but there is now a very nice choice available in “N” also.Prices are comparable,just as the quality of equipment when you stick with the leading names(Kato,Atlas,Spectrum,Proto 1000 and 2000 to name a few).
Ho is still more popular and will probably remain so,meaning that you will always find more HO stuff on hobby shop shelves,but if you don’t mind ordering and waiting a little for it,you can find almost anything you may wi***o have.On a 3X6 layout,you may be better stick with 4 axles locos and short cars,and there are plenty of these available in “N”.If your eyesight is fair and your hands aren’t too shaky,you’ll enjoy “N” scale.
It is true that some individual items are somewhat more expensive in N scale–locomotives and some rolling stock–than HO, but the compensation is being able to do so much more in the same space. I personally think N is the way to go.
Ron
Here are three good on line shops that have large selections of N scale. They are by no means the only ones.
http://buynscale.com/ Brooklyn Locomotive Works
http://www.featherrivertrains.com/ Feather River Trains
http://texnrails.com/ TexNrails
I have bought from BLW and Feather River Trains, and friends have said good things about TexNrails.
I actually buy most of my trains at 3 local train stores that are all less than an hours drive (one only 10-15 minutes) from my home. I am fortunate because they are all well stocked with N scale.
I’ve been very happy with N scale. I think the price differential is minimal at the present time. HO does have a wider selection of products, but I’ve found just about anything I’ve wanted in N on the Internet.
Good luck!
[:)]
bout’ the only thing I can think of is that starter track in N scale looks a little less protoypical than the HO variety…but I’m no rivet counter so yeah, N scale is just as good as the HO.
I am modeling in N scale. It’s true N scale was more expensive a few years ago; but not anymore. The prices are comparable with HO and there is a better variety now, more to choose from the various makers. There are few online dealers who deal in N scale and offer good prices and service. I get my stuff from nscalesupply.com. Their prices and service have been good.
Cliff
N scale seems to have improved massively in recent years - I gave up on British N due to the awful Graham Farish locos and cars - these things were dire, though they’ve apparently improved after Bachmann bought the company. I recently traded in the bulk of my British N against some Fleischmann German N - the difference is amazing - proper close coupling where passenger cars touch on straights but move apart on curves, flywheels in locos, directional lighting that looks realistic, etc.
From what I’ve seen of the latest crop of US N locos they look to be as good a standard as the Fleischmann equipment. I have some US N - a couple of Bachmann Fs, a ConCor/Fleischmann F3, and a few others, which always impressed me due to the value for money. Looks like prices and quality are now pretty much the same as HO, so well worth a look. There was a review of the Lifelike N GP7 or GP9 in a UK magazine recently - the only way to tell it wasn’t the HO one was the caption underneath!